Condition
Acupuncture for chronic pain & injuries
For ongoing back and joint pain, acupuncture can bring real, if modest, relief. It's one of the non-drug options doctors suggest trying first for chronic low back pain.
How it can help
- Aims for fewer and milder flare-ups and moving more comfortably day to day.
- Works alongside exercise and your doctor's care, not as a one-time fix.
- Best supported for chronic low back pain; more mixed for knee and neck.
What the research shows
- In a large trial of older adults with back pain, 9 to 15 more people in 100 had a meaningful improvement with acupuncture than with usual care alone.
- US physician guidelines list acupuncture among the non-drug options to try first for chronic low back pain, before medication.
- Its edge over placebo needling is small, and much of the benefit is shared with it.
Practitioners who focus on chronic pain & injuries
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A quick note: KeepCare content is for learning, not medical advice.
Work with your practitioner to find the treatment that’s right for you.